SBS’s “Running Man” received a “no problem” ruling from the Broadcast Media Communication Review Committee after a review of a 2025 episode involving actress Ahn Eun Jin, according to minutes from the 26th Broadcast Review Subcommittee meeting. The decision concluded that a “kissing game” segment, which saw Ahn Eun Jin kiss cast member Yang Se Chan during a blindfolded guessing game, did not violate broadcasting regulations. Four of five committee members voted to clear the segment, while Commissioner Hong Mi Ae dissented, calling it “inappropriate” and urging administrative guidance instead of sanctions.
The controversial scene, which aired on November 23, 2025, involved Ahn Eun Jin and Kim Mu-jeon, stars of the SBS drama “Dynamite Kiss,” as guests. The game required blindfolded participants to guess who had kissed them, with Ahn Eun Jin selected to kiss Yang Se Chan. She expressed discomfort, saying, “Wasn’t there no explicit statement that I actually had to do it?” before proceeding. Cast members later joked about “one more time,” prompting Ahn Eun Jin to wave her hands in refusal. Viewers criticized the segment as sexually inappropriate, with complaints filed over “forced physical contact” during family viewing hours.
Committee Rationale
Chairwoman Kim Min Jung stated that participants were aware of the game’s format and voluntarily participated, making it “difficult to view the physical contact as forced.” She emphasized the “light” nature of the contact, noting it did not constitute “sexual speech or sexual physical contact” under broadcast regulations. Commissioners Kim Woo Seok, Kim Il Gon, and Jo Seung Ho echoed this view, while Hong Mi Ae argued the segment’s reliance on Ahn Eun Jin’s hesitant reactions as humor made it “inevitable” for sexual harassment complaints.
The minutes of the 26th Broadcast Review Subcommittee meeting, disclosed on October 21, 2026, revealed the segment was part of a game parodying the title of the SBS drama “Kisses Are for Nothing!” in which Ahn Eun Jin and Kim Mu-jun, lead actors of the drama, participated. During the game, participants exchanged remarks such as “Is your mouth condition okay today?” and “My lips are fine too.” Ahn Eun Jin kissed Yang Se Chan’s wrist, prompting Haha to joke, “You have to receive one more, right?” Yang Se Chan then pretended to lean in for another kiss, while Ahn Eun Jin waved her hands in refusal. The production team’s game format, described as a “kissing game” titled “Kissing Is Not for Nothing,” drew criticism for its perceived insensitivity.
Disagreement Over Context
The review highlighted a split over whether the game’s format crossed ethical boundaries. While the majority deemed it acceptable, Hong Mi Ae’s dissent highlighted concerns about the use of a guest’s discomfort for comedic effect. The decision, announced after 11 months, marked the end of the review without sanctions, leaving questions about the balance between entertainment and inclusivity in live television.
Commissioner Hong Mi Ae proposed issuing an administrative advisory known as a “recommendation for improvement,” arguing that the segment’s reliance on Ahn Eun Jin’s hesitant reactions as humor made it “inappropriate.” The Broadcasting Review Subcommittee ultimately decided the program did not violate broadcasting regulations, following the majority opinion.
Netizens expressed discomfort, saying, “Isn’t this sexual harassment?”, “Is this really a game to air on a terrestrial broadcaster?”, “Forcing physical contact with a female guest is laughable,” and “I switched channels while watching with my family on Sunday evening.” The review concluded that while the participants were aware of the game’s content and format, the “light” nature of the contact—described as a “simple kiss”—did not meet the threshold for “sexual speech or sexual physical contact” under regulations.
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